From Pamela Manfield, The Narth, Monmouthshire, UK
Michael Marshall’s article about forgotten art and culture from ancient times was fascinating. Even more forgotten is the input of women. They tended to work on textiles, but these rarely survive compared with metals or wood (16/23 December 2023, p 28).
In August 2023, I saw a woman demonstrating weaving. She was using a bowed branch, which had grown naturally to that shape before being cut. So, before looms, people could weave using natural materials from their surroundings. Even if they survived, such wooden “looms” would, I assume, be seen as tree branches, not useful tools.
